Cooper Flagg Leads 2025 NBA Rookie of Year Odds

Cooper Flagg, the Dallas Mavericks' first-overall pick and former Duke star, is the overwhelming favorite to win the 2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year award, with sportsbooks like DraftKings offering him odds of -200, implying a 66.7% chance. Despite Flagg's historic college performance and high expectations, experts note that rookies on playoff-ready teams like Dallas may have limited early playing time due to established stars such as Anthony Davis. Other notable contenders include Ace Bailey of the Utah Jazz, selected fifth overall, who is praised for his elite shooting and athleticism but may face motivation challenges on a losing team. Tre Johnson of the Washington Wizards and Dylan Harper of the San Antonio Spurs also hold competitive odds, though both face depth chart challenges on their respective teams. V.J. Edgecombe, picked third by the Philadelphia 76ers, has longer odds and a tough path to the award given the presence of established stars like Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Overall, while Flagg is the favorite, the unique team situations and competition for minutes create opportunities for other rookies to claim the award.